Cardboard box hinge construction



Da. H6, 3969 R. 1. MCCAULEY CARD BOARD BOX HINGE CONSTRUCTION Filed April 17, 1957 NVENTOR,

5636 40 HL :l1

United States Patent O 3,483,587 CARDBOARD BOX HINGE CONSTRUCTION Robert J. McCauley, Warwick, RJ., assignor to U.S. Metal Fabricating Co., Warwick, RJ., a corporation of Rhode Island Filed Apr. 17, 1967, Ser. No. 631,209 Int. Cl. EilSd /02; B65d 5/66 ILS. Cl. 16-159 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The hinge construction of the present invention has particular use with lightweight boxes such as those for use in the packaging and display of small articles of jewelry and the like. Prior to the instant invention, cardboard display boxes that have employed a hinge construction therein have generally incorporated a hinge such as illustrated in the patent to Young #2,648,486. In the aforesaid Young patent, the hinge members were prepared for mounting on the walls of the box construction by striking out openings therein, this ope'ration causing a plurality of projections to be formed around each open ing. The projections formed along the edge of each hole in the prior art hinge device were adapted to be de flected outwardly so that when the hinge was mounted on a wall of a cardboard box, the outwardly deilecting projections located around each hole would enter into the box wall for clinching over the outer surface thereof.

Although the hinge construction illustrated in Patent #2,648,486 served the purpose intended, the projections as formed around the holes had a tendency to become loose after a period of use of the box, thus causing the hinge members to become disengaged from the walls of the box. Although the projections formed around the holes of the hinge members in Patent #2,648,486 were designed to be embedded in the walls of a box section, these projections or rosettes Were more likely to penetrate through the walls of the box sections and thus were located exteriorly of the box sections. In this instance, since it was necessary to provide a cloth or paper covering for the outer surface of the box sections, the prongs had a tendency to penetrate' or tear the covering. Further, in the assembly of the hinge members of the prior hinge to a cardboard box, a piece of cardboard was sometimes struck out by the projections as they pierced the cardboard wall, Since it was not always apparent that the cardboard wall was punctured, additional labor was oftentimes expended on assembling the box until it was discovered that the projections had punched out a hole, thereby rendering the box useless.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The hinge construction of the present invention defines a departure over the prior known hinge assemblies and provides that each hinge member is formed with a plurality of prongs that are struck out therefrom, each of the prongs being located in a group and having a pointed or penetrating end that is directed generally toward the other penetrating ends of those prongs in the same group. Thus the prongs of each group as formed have their penetrating lCC ends directed generally toward each other and when the hinge members are mounted on the wall of a box, the penetrating ends of each prong are deflected toward a point that is common to each of the prongs in a group. Rather than having the prongs formed by the simultaneous punching of a central hole, around which the prongs are located, as is illustrated in the Patent #2,648,- 486, the prongs formed in the hinge members of the present invention are independently formed and are struck out of their own openings. Thus a non-struck-out portion is formed centrally of each group of prongs, and the penetrating ends of each prong in a group are directed to a common point on a line projected through the axis of the non-struck-out portion. By deilecting the prongs such that their penetrating ends are directed toward each other, a firm gripping action of the prongs is produced with respect to the walls with which they engage when the hinge members are mounted in position on said walls.

Accordingly, it it an object of the present invention to provide a hinge construction for a cardboard box that includes a plurality of prongs that are individually formed from the hinge members of the hinge construction, the prongs being adapted to be clinched into engaging relation with a wall of a cardboard box.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hinge construction for use in a cardboard box that includes hinge members out of which mounting prongs are' blanked, the prongs being formed in groups wherein the penetrating ends thereof are inwardly directed generally toward each other.

Still another object is to provide a hinge construction in which a plurality of prongs are formed in the hinge members thereof, the prongs being formed in groups and arranged such that the penerating ends thereof are deflected toward each other and toward a point on a common center line upon engagement of the prongs with the walls of the box.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing which illustrates the best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention:

FIG. l is a partial perspective view of a box showing the hinge construction of the present invention mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the hinge construction of the present invention showing the location of the mounting prongs as formed in the hinge members;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the hinge construction illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional View taken along lines 4 4 and illustrating the mounting prongs prior to the fixing thereof in a wall of the box shown in FIG. l; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to 4 and showing the mounting prongs after the mounting of the hinge construction on the box walls.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawing and particularly to FIG. I, a portion of a box is generally indicated at 10 and includes a bottom section generally indicated at 12 and a top section generally indicated at 14. The box 10 is adapted to be employed in the packaging of small articles such as articles of jewelry or the like and therefor is of a relatively inexpensive construction, the bottom and top sections 12 and 14 being normally constructed of a material such as cardboard. Although cardboard is the preferred material from which the box sections 12 and 14 are constructed, it is understood that the hinge assembly embodied in the invention may be employed in a box wherein the sections thereof are constructed of a material other than cardboard.

As illustrated in FIG. l, the bottom section 12 includes a bottom wall 16, side walls 18 and 20 and a rear wall 22. The top section 14 is similarly constructed and includes a top wall 24, side walls 26 and 28 and a rear wall 30. As will be described hereinafter, a hinge assembly generally indicated at 32 is adapted to be secured to the rear walls 22 and 30 of the bottom and top sections for hingedly interconnecting the box sections as is conventional in cardboard boxes of this type.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the hinge assembly 32 is illustrated in detail and includes a first hinge plate or member 34 that is adapted to be secured to the rear wall 22 of the bottom box section 12. Pivotally interconnected to the hinge member 34 is a second hinge plate or member 36 that is adapted to be fixed to the rear wall of the top box section 14. In order to provide for interconnecting the hinge members 34 and 36, the 'hinge member 34 is formed with a plurality of hinge knuckles 38 along an edge thereof, and hinge member 36 is similarly formed with a plurality of corresponding hinge knuckles 40 that interleave with the hinge knuckles 38, as indicated in FIG. 2. A hinge pin 42 extends through the hinge knuckles 38 and 40 and thus interconnects the hinge members 34 and 36 in pivotal relation. Formed in the hinge member 34 is an opening 44 on an edge of which a lip 46 is located. A similar opening 4S is formed in the hinge member 36 and a lip 50 is located on the edge of opening 48. Openings 44 and 48 receive the ends of a spring member 52 therein, the ends of the spring member 52 being inturned for securement to the lips 49 and 50. The spring member 52, which is also conventional in construction is adapted to bias the hinge members 34 and 36 to an open or closed position thereby providing for biasing movement of the box sections 12 and 14 to an open or closed position as required.

Prior to the assembly of the hinge members 34 and 36 to the rear walls 22 and 30 respectively of the box sections, a plurality of securing prongs are struck out of the hinge members in the manner as particularly illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Referring to FIG. 2, the prongs are shown struck out of the hinge members in groups, groups A and B being illustrated as formed in hinge member 34 and groups C and D being formed in the hinge member 36. Each of the groups of prongs A, B, C and D are comprised of a plurality of individual prongs indicated at 54. Each prong 54 is struck from its own opening and as formed has a generally triangular configuration, the apex of each prong terminating in a penetrating point or end 56. As shown, each of the prongs 54 is secured to its hinge member along a base line 58 and extends upwardly from the base line in a generally inclined direction, the penetrating end of each prong 54 being directed generally inwardly toward the other penetrating ends of the prongs in its group.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, each prong as struck out in a hinge member forms an opening 60 which also is triangular in shape, the opening 60 having an apex which is directed toward the center of a non-cutout portion 62 located midway between the openings `60. The prongs ends 56 of each prong 54 in the manner as shown and providing for the inward direction thereof, the penetrating vends of the prongs are adapted to be deected toward each other when they are secured to the rear walls of the box sections. This is in contradistinction to the usual practice as illustrated in Patent #2,648,486, wherein the prongs around the holes of the hinge members in 4 this prior construction are turned outwardly and away from each other when they are secured to the box walls.

As shown in FIG. 2, the groups of prongs A, B, `IC and D are each formed such that four prongs 54 constitute a single group. However, it is understood that more or lessof the prongs 54 may be formed in a group depending upon the requirements for use of the hinge construction. In this connection the use of the material from which the box sections are formed may require more or less prongs in each group. However it is seen that in carrying out the concept of the present invention, the penetrating ends 56 of the prongs of each group are directed generally toward each other and that a nonstruck-out portion is located between the prongs.

The hinge members 34 and 36 are secured in place on the walls 22 and 30 of the box sections by forcing the prongs 54 of each group inwardly into intimate contact with the surfaces of these walls. In this connection the penetrating ends 56 and the slight arcuate conformation of the prongs enable the prongs to enter the box Walls at the proper angle for embedding therein as illustrated in FIG. 5. Thus thepenetrating ends 56 are deflected within the box walls toward each other to firmly secure the hinge members 34 and 36 in place. The penetrating ends 56 are prevented from piercing the outer surface of the box walls 22 and 30 and thus are embedded therein in the manner as illustrated in FIG. 5. Because the penetrating ends S6 are deflected toward each other as shown, a more secure construction is achieved, and further because of the arrangement of the groups of prongs, the hinge members 34 and 36' are rmly mounted on the rear walls 22 and 30 of the box sections.

Although only a particular size prong is illustrated and described in conjunction with the present invention, it is understood that when a thicker cardboard stock is used for the box sections, then the base 58 of each prong may be increased to increase the size of the prong. In this event the length of the prong would also be increased resulting in a larger struck-out opening 60. The fact that the center portion 62 is not cut-out as is the case in the prior known hinge for use in cardboard boxes results in a more rigid construction for the hinge assembly 32 as mounted on the walls of the cardboard box.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept vand that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described.

1. In a hinge construction for use Yin a box formed of a deformable material and that includes a top and bottom section having adjacent rear Walls, a rst hinge member being adapted to tbe mounted on one said rear walls, a second hinge memberhingedly connected to said first hinge member and being adapted to be mounted on the other of said rear walls torpivotally interconnect said bottom and top sections, each of said hinge members having a plurality of prongs struckrout therefrom, said prongs being located in groups and each prong in a group being struck out from its own opening and having a penetrating end that is generally directed toward the other penetrating ends of the prongs in the same group,

the penerating'ends ofsaid prongs being secured within a rear wall on which the hinge member from which the prongs are struck is mounted, the penetrating ends' of the prongs in a group being directed toward a point that lies on the projection of a line that extends midway between the penetrating ends.

2. In a hinge vconstruction asset forthin claim 1, a

"central non-struck-out portion being located between the openings defined by each group of struck-out prongs, said vline that extends midway of each group of prongs extending through the'axis of the central portion. y

3. In a hinge construction as set forth in claim 2, each prong being joined to its hinge member along a base line, and being arcuate in configuration so that the penetrating end thereof is directed into the rear wall on which the asociated hinge member is mounted.

4. In a hinge construction as set forth in claim 3, each of the prongs as struck out having a triangular configuration, the apex of each triangle defining a penetrating end, and the opening from which each prong is struck out being triangular, the apices of the triangular openings 0f each group being directed toward the center of the nonstruck-out portion defined therebetween.

5. In a hinge construction as set forth in claim 4, said penetrating ends of the prongs of each group being deected toward each other when they are secured to the rear walls of the box sections.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 800,243 9/1905 Popple 16-159 1,180,873 4/1916 OBrien 16-159 2,188,670 1/1940 Wagner 16-159 2,648,486 8/1953 Young. 3,364,560 1/1968 Roy.

FOREIGN PATENTS 61,429 9/1913 Austria.

DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. XR. 

